A 1.6MW PV system, installed on top of an audio-headset factory in Tijuana, Mexico, is now the largest privately-owned rooftop PV installation in the country, as well as all of Latin America.
The project’s panels, racking and system engineering were all provided by PV manufacturer SolarWorld.
The project will power the factory, which is home to the Mexican branch of headphones producer Plantronics. This marks the second Plantronics facility that utilises SolarWorld solar panels – following on from a 608kW installation at its headquarters in Santa Cruz, California in 2011.
César Lopez, director of government relations for Plantronics Tijuana, said: “Being responsible with the environment is not a luxury, it is a commitment. As part of that commitment, it was important to us to select SolarWorld solar panels and racking, which are manufactured in North America according to the highest standards of quality, safety and sustainability.”
The array, developed by solar integrator 3Tek Solar, is comprised of 4,282 SolarWorld panels and is expected to generate 1.9GWh of power annually while offsetting about 70% of the building’s energy needs.
About 1.4MW of SolarWorld’s panels are installed on the building’s roof, thanks to SolarWorld’s Sunfix Plus racking system. The remaining 20kW are installed on top of a covered walking leading to the factory’s entrance.